Sheehan 1

Kimball Sheehan

Ms. Akers

Honors English 9

20 October 2017

BAIL Essay

Moses is an honorable prophet in the Old Testament. He is found in the stories Exodus,

Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land, and, for

this act, he is well-respected. Throughout the Old Testament, Moses suffered. He suffered in

order to lead the Hebrews to the Promised Land. Additionally, he suffered because of his

devotion to God. Lastly, he suffered because he made the Hebrews lives easier by freeing them

from slavery. Mosess sufferings were significant because they allowed the Hebrews to start a

new life and to build an empire.

Throughout his lifetime, Moses suffered in order to lead the Hebrews to the Promised

Land. Examples of his suffering included the arduous journey through the desert, the

challenging mediation between God and the Hebrews, and the fasting for forty days. He rescued

the Hebrews out of Egypt, where they were slaves, and he guided them to the Promised Land

that God spoke of. Before the Hebrews left Egypt, there were complaints and doubts: Is it

because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?

(120). This protesting behavior continued throughout the journey to the Promised Land. Moses

continually reminded the Hebrews of the covenant God made with them. He reminded them of

what lay ahead: a place for them to settle, where they would prosper.
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Along the journey, the Hebrews also disobeyed God. While he was communicating with

God on Mount Sinai, Aaron and the Hebrews created a golden calf that they would worship:

These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt! (135). This

immoral act disobeyed the First and Second Commandment. When God heard the news, He was

infuriated, but Moses pleaded for atonement. However, there was a severe punishment: And he

was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water (137).

By fasting, Moses provided the Hebrews with Gods forgiveness, so that he could lead them to

the Promised Land. He agreed to free the Israelites from slavery because he obeyed God and

understood Abrahams covenant with Him. Moses spent the majority of his life attempting to get

the Hebrews to the Promised Land, even if he had to suffer along the way.

Moses was loyal to God and his religion. Throughout his life, he was given several

opportunities to lose faith in God. When God requested that Moses free the Israelites from

Egypt, he was hesitant: Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of

Egypt? (112). Even though he doubted God, he eventually agreed to save the Hebrews from the

Pharaoh and lead them to the Promised Land. This act depicts his devotion to God. Over time,

Moses learned to put faith in God and to believe in Him. He could have lost hope numerous

times during the journey in the desert. When the Hebrews were punished for creating a new god,

Moses had to suffer as well. Even though he did not take part in the worshipping of the golden

calf, he had to experience the punishment, and he did so without complaining or losing his faith

in God. Moses was a devoted follower of God, even when others around him were not.

Moses made the Hebrews lives easier and more pleasurable. Through the Lord, he

rescued the Hebrews from slavery: Then Moses, stretched out his hand over the sea; and the
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Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the

waters were divided (121). He accompanied the Hebrews out of Egypt, and they were freed

from slavery. Even when he made their lives better, there were still protests from the Hebrews:

Would that we have died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the

fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this

whole assembly with hunger (128). Moses responded to the murmurings of hunger by providing

them with manna and quails, and the people were very grateful. The Hebrews were doubtful and

ungrateful, during the journey through the desert. Moses continually reassures them that God is

watching over them, but they continued to question whether leaving Egypt was the best option.

Although the Hebrews might not have realized during all aspects of their journey, Moses made

their lives far better than the slavery that they left behind. When the Hebrews arrived in the

Promised Land, they built an empire. Mosess kindness and selflessness enabled the Hebrews

to thrive and live in comfort rather than slavery.

Moses suffered in order to make the Hebrews lives easier. He experienced pain in order

to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, and he suffered because of his faithfulness to God

and his religion. Mosess sufferings were the key principles that allowed the Hebrews to begin a

new life and form an empire.